These cookies are my favorite holiday tradition. We’ve made them every year as a family for the holidays for as long as I can remember. I’ve actually never been a big cookie fan, but these are the absolute exception. I love these partly because of nostalgia, and partly due to their deliciousness, and I highly recommend them to any pastry lover.

—— Olivia

Ingredients

2.25 cups of all purpose flour

2 teaspoons of ground ginger

1 teaspoons of baking soda

0.75 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

0.5 teaspoons of ground cloves

0.25 teaspoons of salt

0.75 cups of butter

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

0.25 cup of molasses

2 tablespoons of sugar

0.5 cup of Red Hots

Directions

1. Combine flour, ginger, soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt (set aside)

2. Beat butter with an electronic mixer at slow for 30 seconds add cup of flour slowly and beat until fluffy. Add egg and molasses, and beat well. Stir dry ingredients from step one into bowl.

3. Make 1.5 inch balls and roll in a bowl of 2 tablespoons of sugar. Add red hots to the center of the cookie. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 2.5 inches apart and bake at 350º for ten minutes.

4. Let sit for 2 minutes, then place on wire rack. This makes about 25 3-inch diameter cookies.